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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · pound · hide · saw · wound · can · present · branch

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. present — the time now
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. branch — a division
  5. can — a tin
  6. pass — a permit
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. can — a tin
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. saw — the tool
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. present — there
  15. can — to be able to
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. wound — an injury
  19. wound — an injury
  20. saw — the tool
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. present — a gift

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com